台灣俗語的智慧(20)

台灣俗語的智慧(20)

1.    黑矸仔底豆油-(無地看) 把黑色醬油裝在黑瓶子內-比喻事情不透明，或某人的才能或條件有『深藏不露』之意。(台語「底」乃「裝」之意。本句含有『意想不到』與略帶諷刺之意。

black soy sauce in the black bottle；figuratively, invisible  qualities , talents or achievements. (看不見的才能或成就)

【比較】：『Diam Diam, 吃三碗公』

-外表普通的人，竟有那麽大的食量，或有出奇的表現，令人刮目相看。(Diam Diam-台語，靜靜的)

a.     It is astonishing that someone has such a good appetite. (直譯)- 想不到某人食量這麽好。

b.     Someone’s capability/achievement/wrongdoing is beyond expectation. (意譯)- 某人的能力、成就或壞事超出意外。

2. 生命帶骨，先削未落-與生帶來的命運，無法改變

an unalterable fate or destiny/ one is destined for something undesirably bad -多半惜無法改變的壞命運

(落唸成「luh」與骨押韻)

3.     叫你舉犁，你要拿耙：犂與耙均為農具，含故意唱反調之義 being against or not in favor of someone on purpose

4.     人情卡薄過一張紙

Favor done to others is as thin as a piece of paper-(直譯) 

It is hard to expect something in return for a favor done.- (意譯) 以上為抱怨詞 (怨嘆)

5.     掠賊在贜、捉奸在床：物証或人証為直接定罪的條件

Evidence is a key factor whether in identifying a thief with his stolen property or in catching one in the very act of committing adultery. (贜與床押韻)

11/26/2013

校友會英語漫談

AACHW13